How to handle customer retainage retention in QBO

How to handle customer retainage retention in QuickBooks Online?
Example: A customer we do work for keeps 20% of our invoiced amount until we reach a certain amount. That money is ours. They just hold it back in an account for us in case something goes wrong on a job that is our fault. How do I record that in QBO?

DEFINITION: Retainage is a portion of the agreed-upon contract price deliberately withheld until the work is substantially complete to assure that contractor or subcontractor will satisfy its obligations and complete a construction project.

Let’s get started with step-by-step instructions for you.

1) To set up retainage tracking in the Chart of Accounts and Products/Services:

Create a new Retainage account in the Chart of Accounts:

From the left Dashboard panel, click Accounting.

In the Chart of Accounts, click “New” green button at the far top right corner.

For Category Type, select Other Current Assets.

For Detail Type, select Retainage (at the near bottom).

For the Name, enter Retainage Receivable.

For the description, enter Retainage Receivable (same as Name).

Click Save and close.

See screenshot below for reference.

Create a Retainage item from the Products/Services:

Click the gear in the top-right corner of the screen.

From the drop-down menu, within the Lists section, select Products and Services.

In the Products and Services window, click “New” green button at the far top right corner.

Select “Service” under Product/Service information

Enter a Name for the item (i.e. Retainage).

Optional: SKU and Category fields.

Under Sales Information, place a check-mark next to I sell this product/service to my customers and enter “Retainage Receivable” (this is for the description on sales forms i.e. Invoice).

Select the Retainage Receivable account (you just created) from the Income Account drop-down.

Be sure to Uncheck “Is taxable” box.

Click Save and close.

See screenshot below for reference.

How do I record retainage or retention in QBO continue… Next step is create an invoice/sales recipt with retainage withold line item.

2) To withhold retainage from an invoice/sales receipt:

Click the + plus symbol, located at the top of the screen.

Select Invoice under Customers heading.

Select your customer.

Fill out the remaining fields of the invoice, including the product/service line items.

On the next available line of the invoice, select “Retainage” from the Product/Service column.

In the Rate or Amount column, enter the amount of the retainage as a negative (-) number. (In this sample Invoice below, the subtotal line amount is $493.00 and 20% is retainage rate. So, either on rate or amount column, just enter 493*-.20 and tab it. You will get negative $98.60 or just compute the amount and enter it).

Click Save and close.

See screenshot below for reference.

3) To record Received Retainage Refund Payment Deposit:

Click the + plus symbol, located at the top of the screen.

Select Bank Deposit under Others heading.

Go to “Add other funds to this deposit” section

Fill out
Received From = Your Customer’s Name
Account = Retainage Receivable
And enter the rest as you need.

Save and close.

See screenshot below for reference.

4) To run a report on Retainage Receivable accounts from various customers:

From the left Dashboard panel, click Accounting.

In the Chart of Accounts, locate “Retainage Receivable” account line.

Go to “View register” under Action column at the far right corner.

From the drop-down arrow, select the “Run Report” button.

Under Row/Columns at the top left, change “Group by” to Customer (especially if you have multiple customers with retainage balances).

Click Run Report.
This report will give account details by customer balances.

Since you will need to track these retainage activities regularly, click “Save customization” green button, located in the top-left corner of the report window and name it “Retainage” report and Save.

Now, you have saved this report for future use. Next time, when you want to run this report (Dashboard > Reports > Custom Reports tab > locate Retainage report and run the report).